Airline eyes Fla. service to New England cities

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A new airline is looking to create nonstop service from several New England airports to Florida after receiving certification from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Based in Portland, Maine, Elite Airways hopes to establish nonstop regional jet service between Portland International Jetport and Melbourne International Airport in Florida.

Bryan Glazer, a company spokesman, says the airline is also looking at service to Portsmouth, N.H., Worcester, Mass., and possibly upstate New York cities, including Niagara Falls and Plattsburgh.

Glazer said the goal is to link those cities with nonstop service to Melbourne, which he described as an alternative to busier airports in Orlando and Palm Beach. He says the service would start with 50-seat regional jets, and use bigger aircraft if there's demand.